Shaq explains why Cooper Flagg might go down as one of the GOATs in the NBA: “I have never seen a scenario so perfect for somebody” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
It is remarkable that Cooper Flagg, who has yet to make his first appearance on a proper NBA stage, is already placed on an otherworldly pedestal by much of the basketball world. If labeling him a “generational talent” wasn’t enough, there are comparisons between Larry Bird and Flagg that have already sprung in the air. Now, four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal has taken the conversation to an entirely different level, declaring how he believes Flagg is destined to enter the GOAT conversations by the time it’s all said and done.
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The reasoning for Shaq’s self-assured proclamation? The NBA has deliberately positioned Flagg for such a trajectory.
O’Neal on why Flagg can become the GOAT contender
Flagg’s rise over the past few years has felt nothing short of mythic. As a teenager, he grabbed international headlines when he battled and held himself against NBA superstars during Team USA’s practice. From knocking down three-pointers in the face of Anthony Davis to getting past Jrue Holiday, the Duke sensation did it all.
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Then, in a twist that shocked fans across the league, the Dallas Mavericks traded away a 26-year-old superstar in Luka Doncic despite the Slovenian guard leading them to the NBA Finals not even a year back. As the fanbase turned hostile against their team and front office, the Mavs landed the lottery pick to draft Flagg despite having less than a two percent chance of doing so.
With that, Cooper finally landed on a team that boasts the best frontcourt lineup in the NBA. Moreover, Dallas also has championship-experienced veterans Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving on the roster.
Highlighting the same, O’Neal emphasized how the NBA has effectively cleared the runway for Flagg, not just for him to succeed early or to become the face of the league, but to make him the next certified contender in the GOAT debates.
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“They’re laying it out for him. I’ve never seen a scenario so perfect for anybody,” O’Neal said on his podcast. “A team with a mega star, they get rid of him. They’re down. All of a sudden, they get a first pick. So, now you’re bringing in another potential mega star, and he got all the eyes… I’ve never seen a Cinderella story that’s just so laid out for a guy.”
The Maine Event has a lot of pressure on him
With iconic figures like Kevin Durant and LeBron James already voicing their admiration and now Diesel repeatedly bringing him up in interviews, it seems evident that Flagg has become the focal point of basketball’s next generation. Thus, every game he plays in the 2025-26 season will be dissected, with each jump in his development broadcast in real time.
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But with all this hype comes immense pressure. Can Flagg maintain his composure and prove he deserves all this hype from day one? That’s the question the whole world will be watching closely, because when the hype reaches that level, naysayers tend to grow quickly.
As much as the media wants Flagg to become a sensation, they won’t hesitate to tear him apart if he falls short of the lofty expectations placed upon him.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.